Wicker Furnishings

Once relegated to the porch, wicker furnishings are now a permanent fixture inside. Wicker mixes easily with other styles of furniture and readily assumes a new personality with a coat of paint or other embellishments.

On the Fringe

Embellishing any wicker furnishings with a little frill is easy. All you need is a hot-glue gun and fringe hefty enough to be seen against the textural wicker.

Measure your wicker chair from the end of one arm to the end of the other; add 2 inches. Measure around the bottom of the chair; add 2 inches. Purchase 5-inch-long fringe in these amounts.

Seal the fringe’s cut ends with hot glue. Starting at one end of the chair and using a hot-glue gun, glue the fringe along the chair’s arms and back. Glue the fringe along the bottom the same way.

Don’t use a low temperature glue for this project. If the chair will be subjected to high heat or intense sun, use upholstery tacks or white glue instead of a glue gun.

Aged to Perfection

To give new wicker furnishings an old look, create layers of colors that mock how coats of paint would be worn away.

Paint the chair with a dark base coat. When the paint is almost dry and slightly tacky, use rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth or steel wool to remove the paint and expose the wicker in areas of high wear (seat, back, arms and skirt). These areas should be uneven to appear naturally worn.

After this coat dries, add a lighter coat and remove some of it the same way. Dark paint and wicker should now show through.